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Home Meal Type Sides
5
/5
20 minutes

Pan Fried Gnocchi with Sage and Black Pepper

Dairy Free Dairy-Free Nut Free Nut Free Vegan Vegan Vegetarian Vegetarian
Jump to Recipe
By: Denise Bustard4 Comments
Posted: 6/28/13 Updated: 8/29/20

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Pan fried gnocchi gets a delicious texture and is tossed with sage and black pepper. A tasty side dish option and great alternative to potatoes!

Gnocchi with Sage and Black Pepper on a blue plate

A week ago, craziness hit Calgary. Make that a flood...of Biblical proportions. Huge rainfall in the Rockies made its way downstream in the Bow and Elbow Rivers, and hit the city like never before. Thousands of houses were flooded. Cars left abandoned were submerged. The city's downtown channeled waters between highrise buildings. The zoo was flooded, leading to the evacuation of several animals (we later found out a hippo almost escaped during the flooding...can you imagine?)  The Stampede grounds were completely flooded (a few weeks before Stampede is set to go), and the Saddledome, where the Calgary Flames play hockey was completely destroyed below the 8th row (dressing rooms, equipment).

The craziest part of all of this is how casual and flippant we all were prior to the waters arriving in Calgary. We saw the photos of what had happened upstream in Canmore, and knew water was coming. But we never imagined that all of this would happen. I left work last Thursday thinking "Calgary is under a state of emergency? Over-reaction?". This is why people left their cars, pets and valuables, thinking that the evacuations were merely a precaution. How wrong we were.

I am very fortunate to live far from the river and the devastation, and have watched this story unfold like some sort of crazy dream. It has been amazing to watch Calgarians band together and help their neighbors clean up the mess. People have opened their homes to complete strangers who have been evacuated from the floods. Mayor Nenshi called for 600 volunteers and thousands turned up. It is so wonderful to see!

Reasons you'll ♡ this pan fried gnocchi

  • it gets the most incredible texture
  • there is no need to boil the gnocchi first
  • it's ready in under 25 minutes

Collage image of various photos showing flooding in Calgary

Above are some photos I snapped on my iPhone during the flooding. Really, the pictures of the river don't convey the monster that it became: so big and so fast. I think even the geese on the river were alarmed!

Pile of Gnocchi with Sage and Black Pepper in a blue bowl

Now...on to lighter topics. 'Cause gnocchi is light...get it? 😉

Overhead view of Gnocchi with Sage and Black Pepper in a blue bowl

This post is going to be short and sweet. I almost feel like this is a cheat post. Because this recipe Couldn't. Be. Simpler. This is the dish you throw together when you don't have the time to cook roasted potatoes, and don't have the energy to boil water to make mashed potatoes.

Toss some packaged gnocchi into olive oil. Throw in a pan. Fry. It's really that easy.

The shocking thing is how amazing these things taste! We were actually arguing over who got the plate with more gnocchi on it!

Once fried, the gnocchi get a beautiful golden color, a crunchy exterior and the usual soft, pillowy inside. Add some black pepper and some garden grown sage into the mix, and you have yourself a classy, delicious side dish.

And no one will ever know how little effort it took!

Tips & equipment for pan fried gnocchi

  • you can make this in any pan...I use this ceramic non-stick greenpan these days
  • serve as a side dish or toss in pasta sauce and serve! This Vegan Bolognese is our family fave these days.
  • Looking for more gnocchi recipes? Check out this One Pan Gnocchi With White Beans and Sun Dried Tomatoes, this Caprese Chicken Gnocchi Skillet and this Lemon Chicken Baked Gnocchi

Did you make this? Tag me on social @sweetpeasandsaffron and be sure to leave a comment and rate the recipe!

gnocchi with sage and black pepper in a pile on blue plate

Pan Fried Gnocchi with Sage and Black Pepper

5 from 1 vote
Prep Time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 15 mins
Total Time: 20 mins
Print Rate
Pan fried gnocchi gets a delicious texture and is tossed with sage and black pepper. A tasty side dish option and great alternative to potatoes!
4

Ingredients

  • 1 Packaged gnocchi (the shelf stable kind)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 8 sage leaves chopped roughly
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions 

  • Toss the gnocchi and olive oil in a bowl.
  • Heat a pan over medium-high heat. Add gnocchi and cook, stirring occasionally, for 15-20 minutes or until gnocchi becomes golden. Add more oil as needed (if pan becomes completely dry).
  • Add sage leaves and season with salt and pepper (more heavily on the pepper). Stir until sage leaves become fragrant (but be careful not to burn). Remove from heat.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 62kcal, Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 7g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 1mg
Author: Denise Bustard
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American

© Sweet Peas & Saffron - Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.

Did You Make This?Don't forget to leave a review below, and tag us on Instagram using @SweetPeasAndSaffron or #sweetpeasandsaffron
Tag Me On Instagram Rate Recipe

Recipe adapted from Ms Nigella.

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Meet Denise Bustard

Denise Bustard is the creator of Sweet Peas and Saffron, a meal prep-focussed food blog. With a PhD in biochemistry, Denise takes a scientific approach to perfecting her recipes. You can find Denise's work featured on Huffington Post, MSN, Self and more.

Read more...

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Recipe Rating




  1. Adam says

    Posted on 6/5/18 at Posted on 6/5/18

    5 stars
    I just love pan fried Gnocchi!

    Reply
    • Denise says

      Posted on 6/5/18 at Posted on 6/5/18

      Isn't it great? Thanks, Adam!

      Reply
  2. Joanne Smith says

    Posted on 6/4/18 at Posted on 6/4/18

    How long will this keep if you are meal ,prepping?

    Reply
    • Denise says

      Posted on 6/5/18 at Posted on 6/5/18

      Hmmm not totally sure. They won't stay crispy but I would guess they'd be good in the fridge for 3-4 days?

      Reply

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Hi, I'm Denise

Meal prep took me from feeling constantly stressed out about meals to cool, collected and in control. I want to share this amazing and transformational habit with you, so you can feel in control, too! Read more ...

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